1540s
Oil on panel, 57 x 81 cm
Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
Cranach was a court painter for the Elector Frederic the Wise of Saxony (1463-1525) from 1504 until his death. He painted several scenes of hounds wearing out their quarry before the killing blow is delivered. The paintings share similar compositions: the landscape is viewed from a bird's eye perspective, allowing the artist to clearly describe all the stages of the hunt.
